The name 'Pesach' is also said to have been picked up
from the fact that it was the name of the sacrificial lamb that was made
in the Temple on this holiday before Exodus. Other names for this
holiday are 'Chag he-Aviv', which means 'the Spring Festival', 'Chag
ha-Matzoth', which means 'the Festival of Matzahs' and 'Z'man
Cherutenu', which means 'the Time of Our Freedom'. The holiday is
observed for eight days and Seder is observed on its first two nights.
The Fast of the Firstborn is observed on the day before Pesach, which is
a minor fast for all firstborn males to commemorate the fact that
firstborns of Israelites were saved during the slaying in Egypt.
Passover is a time for family gatherings and happiness for Jews as it
signifies that they are finally free and are their own masters.
Passover 2011 Date: First night of Passover 2011 is
April 19th, Tuesday.
